The Kochi Municipal Corporation is the municipal corporation that governs the Indian city of Kochi in the state of Kerala. The Corporation manages 94.88 km2 of Kochi city and has a population of 677,381 within that area. It is the most densely populated city corporation in the state. Kochi Municipal Corporation has been formed with functions to improve the infrastructure of town.
History The port at Kozhikode held superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while Kannur, Kollam, and Kochi, were commercially important secondary ports, where the traders from various parts of the world would gather.The Portuguese, Indian Ocean and European Bridgeheads 1500–1800. Festschrift in Honour of Prof. K. S. Mathew (2001). Edited by: Pius Malekandathil and T. Jamal Mohammed. Fundacoa Oriente. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities of MESHAR (Kerala) The arrival of the Portuguese at Kappad, Kozhikode in 1498, during the Age of Discovery, opened a direct sea route from Europe to India.DC Books, Kottayam (2007), A. Sreedhara Menon, A Survey of Kerala History However with the arrival of Portuguese, the power of Zamorin began to decline and Kochi began to emerge as the largest port city on the coast.DC Books, Kottayam (2007), A. Shreedhara Menon, A Survey of Kerala History
The Fort Kochi had its first municipality established under Dutch influence on 18 April 1664 which was limited within Dutch occupied Kochi Stormburg Fort (Immanuel Fort), which was the oldest municipality in the Indian sub-continent. However, with the handing over of Kochi to the British as part of Anglo-Dutch treaty, the municipality of Fort Kochi was disbanded and much of the local administration were then carried out by Pandara officials (Revenue department of Cochin Kingdom). The Ernakulam town was under the direct protection of the British Resident of Kochi. A municipality under the chairmanship of British Resident was commissioned in 1823 to administer Ernakulam town. However it didn't have local representation, rather constituted by military officials of the British East India Company.
Fort Kochi, which was a part of Malabar District until 1956, was made a municipality on 1 November 1866, along with Kannur, Thalassery, Kozhikode, and Palakkad, according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850) of the British Indian Empire. Its first Municipal Council seating contest was conducted in 1883. This was first modern municipality in the region and also the first native (not under British India) municipality of the country. Much of Kochi's progress in local administration came under reign of Maharaja Rama Varma along with support of Diwan Sankunni Menon. In the year 1873, Mattancherry areas were demarcated out of Fort Kochi and a new municipal board was formed. In 1896, the Maharaja announced establishment of a municipal board for Ernakulam town, constituted by 4 members from palace, 2 members from local communities, one Englishman and 2 members from other religious minorities. The mayor was nominated by Maharaja. These were the first steps towards establishing a modern municipalities in the city.
After independence, these 3 municipalities remained and was brought under Indian laws. In 1956 the erstwhile Elamkulam Panchayat and a portion of Cheranallur Panchayat (Pachalam - Vaduthala) were amalgamated to the Ernakulam Municipality. In 1962 a portion of Palluruthy Panchayat (Mundamveli area) was amalgamated to the then Mattancherry Municipality. Edappally Panchayat was formed in 1946 and Palluruthy and Vyttila in 1953. The idea behind the formation of Kochi Municipal Corporation was first shaped in the Mattancherry Municipal Council. The Council passed a resolution requesting the Government to form Cochin Municipal Corporation amalgamating the Municipalities of Ernakulam, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi, on 9 July 1960. However, the erstwhile Fort Kochi Municipal Council was strongly opposed to this proposal.
Kerala State Assembly approved the proposal of Cochin Municipal Corporation. The Government of Kerala, as per their order G.O. (MS) 276/67/DD dt. 27/9/67, notified the formation of the Municipal Corporation of Kochi by amalgamating the three historical Municipalities of the state (Ernakulam, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi) with the Willingdon Island, four Panchayats (Palluruthy, Vennala, Vyttila and Edappally) and the small islands of Gundu Dweepu, Ramanthuruth. The new Corporation came into existence on 1 November 1967, having a total area of 83.524 km2. The name of the Corporations was later changed to Kochi Municipal Corporation, to reflect the local name.
Structure
The corporation is headed by a mayor. The current mayor is VK Minimol of the Indian National Congress, seconded by Deepak Joy as Deputy Mayor. Former mayors and deputy mayors include Mercy Williams and C.K. Manisankar. The city is divided into 76 administrative wards, from which the members of the corporation council are elected for a period of five years. The corporation has its central office situated in Ernakulam and has zonal offices at Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Palluruthy, Edappally, Vaduthala and Vyttila.
For the purpose of administration, the corporation is divided into different departments, each catering to a different aspect of the city's development and welfare. The corporation secretary, appointed by the Government of Kerala, is the head of the administrative wing of the Kochi Municipal Corporation and oversees its administrative affairs. The Personal Department takes care of the general administration of the city. The various departments include that of Town Planning, Health, Engineering, Revenue, Accounts and the Council Section. The corporation has a Janasevanakendram (meaning centre for people's service), that addresses the issues of the public. The corporation also operates eight maternity and child welfare centers in the city.
Wards After the ward delimitation in 2025, the number of wards in Kochi Municipal Corporation increased from 74 to 76.
Office holders + Kochi Municipal Corporation — Office Holders (2025–2030) Office Name Notes Mayor V. K. Minimol (INC) Elected Mayor; serving first half of term after 2025 council elections; Councillor from Palarivattom division Deputy Mayor Deepak Joy (INC) Elected Deputy Mayor; serving first part of term.Chairperson, Finance Standing Committee Deepak JoyDeputy mayor Ex officio Chairperson, Development Standing CommitteeShakrutha (INC)Chairperson, Welfare Standing Committee Antony Painuthara (INC)Chairperson, Health Standing CommitteeSeena Teacher (INC)Public Works Standing CommitteeAshraf T. K. (IUML)Town Planning Standing CommitteeAdv. P.M. Naseema (INC)Tax Appeal Standing CommitteeK.A. Manaf (INC)Education & Sports Standing CommitteeJismi Gerald (INC)Corporation Secretary P.S. ShibuOfficial appointed by the Government of Kerala.
Executive Officers Kochi Municipal Corporation Leadership Position Name Division Party Alliance Mayor Adv. Minimol V. K. Palarivattom (33) Deputy Mayor Vacant
Current members The 76 wards of the Kochi Municipal Corporation and their councillors are listed below in the serial wise order. AssemblyWard DetailsCouncillor Party AllianceRemarksNo.NameKochi 1 Fort Kochi Shiny Mathew Mayor-designate (Term 2) 2 Kalvathy Fausia Mohammed 3 Earavely Rahina Rafeeq 4 Karippalam Manaf K. A. 5 Cheralayi Pravitha Vijayakumar 6 Mattanchery Sheeja Navas 7 Chakkamadam Suhana Subair 8 Karuvelippady Kavitha Harikumar Ernakulam 9 Island North Padmakumari T. 10 Ravipuram S. Sashikala 11 Ernakulam South K. V. P. Krishnakumar Deputy Mayor-designate (Term 2) 12 Gandhi Nagar Nirmala Teacher 13 Kathrikadavu Riya Lawrence 14 Ernakulam Central Sudha Dileepkumar 15 Ernakulam North Augustine Sebastian P. M. 16 Kaloor South Aristotle M. G. Thrikkakara 17 Kaloor North Ashraf T. K. Ernakulam 18 Thrikkanarvattom Dr. Jalaja S. Acharya 19 Ayyappankavu Deepak Joy Deputy Mayor 20 Pottakuzhy Brigith Ashin 21 Elamakkara South V. R. Sudheer 22 Pachalam Albert Ambalathingal 23 Thattazham Sibi John 24 Vaduthala West Jismi Gerald 25 Vaduthala East Henry Austin 26 Elamakkara North Beena Mahesh 27 Puthukkalavattam Seena Teacher 28 Kunnumpuram Jagadambika Thrikkakara 29 Ponekkara Nimmi Mariyam 30 Edappally Abdul Latheef 31 Changampuzha Sini Anand 32 Dhevankulangara Vijayakumar 33 Palarivattom Adv. Minimol V. K. Mayor 34 Stadium Adv. Deepthi Mary Varghese 35 Karanakkodam Girly Robert 36 Puthiyaroad Molly Charlie 37 Padivattam Shibi Soman 38 Vennala Sabu Koroth 39 Chakkaraparambu Adv. P. M. Naseema 40 Chalikkavattam Bindu Viju 41 Thammanam Divya Rajesh 42 Elamkulam Nisha P. D. 43 Girinagar P. D. Martin 44 Ponnurunni M. X. Sebastian 45 Ponnurunni East Beena Divakaran 46 Vyttila V. P. Chandran UDF Independent 47 Poonithura Xavier P. Antony 48 Vyttila Janatha Anju K. Thankachan 49 Kadavanthra Jison George 50 Panampilly Nagar Antony Painuthara Ernakulam 51 Perumanoor K. X. Francis 52 Konthuruthy Abhishek K. S. 53 Thevara Elizabeth Teacher 54 Island South Shakrutha Thrippunithura 55 Kadebhagam Ashwathi Joshi 56 Palluruthy East N. P. Shanthini 57 Thazhuppu Sujatha Sabu 58 Eadakochi North K. J. Basil 59 Edakochi South Lasitha Peter 60 Perumbadappu Likitha N. X. 61 Konam C. R. Biju 62 Palluruthy Kacheripady V. A. Sreejith 63 Nambyapuram Rashida Hussain Kochi 64 Palluruthy Geetha Prabhakaran 65 Pullardesam Hema Teacher 66 Tharebhagam Lavitha Nelson 67 Thoppumpady Joseph Sumith 68 Mundamvely East K. J. Prakashan OTH 69 Mundamvely Lisi Sumi 70 Manassery Nisha Joseph 71 Moolamkuzhy Joseph Fernandes (Josykutty) 72 Chullickal Bastin Babu UDF Independent 73 Nasrathu Yesudas (P. J. Dasan) 74 Panayappilly Aswathy Gireesh 75 Amaravathy Adv. Priya Prashanth 76 Fortkochi Veli Manjula Anil Kumar
Ward Breakdown by Assembly Constituency Assembly Constituency Total Wards UDF LDF NDA OTH Leading Alliance Thrikkakara 23 22 1 0 0 UDF Ernakulam 23 15 4 3 1 UDF Kochi 21 10 7 3 1 UDF Thrippunithura 9 1 8 0 0 LDF Total 76 48 20 6 2 UDF
Demography
The Kochi City has a population of 596,473 as per Indian Census 2001. Kochi witnessed a rapid population growth during the past 30 years. The average decadal growth in Kochi Corporation is 7.83% whereas the nearby municipal areas registered decadal average of 18.65%, and the adjoining panchayaths had an average decadal growth of 12.13%. The Sub-urban areas around the city is showing high rate of population growth and also fast developing trends. The literacy rate is 95.5%.
Revenue sources
The following are the Income sources for the Corporation from the Central and State Government.
Revenue from taxes Following is the Tax related revenue for the corporation.
Property tax. Profession tax. Entertainment tax. Grants from Central and State Government like Goods and Services Tax. Advertisement tax.
Revenue from non-tax sources
Following is the Non Tax related revenue for the corporation.
Water usage charges. Fees from Documentation services. Rent received from municipal property. Funds from municipal bonds. Fees and user charges Sale and hire charges
Election history Corporation Election 2025 S.No. Party name Party symbol Number of Corporators ChangeMap1. UDF 48 182. LDF 20 93. BJP 06 14. IND 02 8
Corporation Election 2020 S.No. Party name Party symbol Number of Corporators Change1. UDF 30 82. LDF 29 63. OTHERS 10 14. BJP 05 3
2015 Local body elections Soumini Jain from the Indian National Congress served as the mayor of Kochi Corporation in 2015. On the council, Soumini represented the municipal corporation's 36th division (Elamkulam).
S.No.Political Front/PartyNumber of Corporators1United Democratic Front (UDF)382Left Democratic Front (LDF)233National Democratic Alliance (NDA)024Others11
Issues